Armed forces deploy hi-tech systems to counter militancy

A K Dhar in New Delhi

Army has begun to deploy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, remote sensing detectors and sensors on the Line of Control, while making determined efforts to fence the 100-km Jammu-Pathankot stretch of the International Border as stepped up measures to check infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.

A wide range of sensors, integrated observation equipment, hand-held thermal images and unattended ground sensors have been put in place all along the 800-km long LoC after long trials, army officials said.

Army officials said wide-ranging sensors could pick up movement of militants as well as troops build-up from quite a distance, to allow enough reaction time to security forces to surprise infiltrating groups.

"We missed such sensors during the Kargil conflict," top army officials said, adding a large number of such sensors had been installed after evaluation and field trials. They said more such sensors were being procured.

The first batch of high altitude UAVs, which will give the army the capability to 'spot movements' across the LoC, has been deployed, Army Chief Gen S Padmanabhan said, adding "We have asked for more and will get them."

These developments come at a time when the state has been witnessing an upsurge in militant attacks, particularly by Pakistani mercenary groups who have rejected Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's unilateral ceasefire and its extension.

Gen S Padmanabhan has hinted at army employing unconventional tactics against militants indicating that special forces - the para-commandos - would be used in surprise raids on militants, to exploit the advantages of the recent placement of hi-tech equipment.

The Army Chief hinted that if the peace process gained momentum, the army's prime role would be to block infiltration along the LoC.

He said a clamour for ceasefire was coming from some Kashmiri militant groups as security forces, through sustained operations, had achieved total ground domination in the state.

The installation of hi-tech sensors has made infiltration across the LoC perilous and Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence has now shifted focus to the 100-km long stretch of International Border facing Jammu division. As many as over 56 attempts to sneak across were detected during the past two months alone.

To counter the menace, the government has redoubled efforts to take up electric fencing of the stretch on a war footing with security force personnel, including those of the army and Border Security Force, taking on the task as civilian contractors turned tail on being fired upon by Pakistani Rangers.

Army officials expressed determination to go ahead with the fencing. The Pakistanis did not interfere with fencing work on the Punjab border, but said they will not allow the same on the J&K border.